"Sweeney Todd' a wicked delight at Aurora theatre

It all comes together in a darkly delicious way in Stephen Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd," which is now onstage at Aurora Community Theatre.

The play, which opened July 5 and is directed by Twinsburg resident Claudia Lillibridge, has a fantastic cast, which carries off this challenging musical with seemingly little effort.

The play centers on Sweeney Todd (Thomas E. Love), who was exiled from Great Britain on false charges from the conniving Judge Turpin (Mike Rogan). Todd returns after 15 years to find his wife gone and his young daughter Johanna (Carolyn Voorhees) the ward of Turpin. Todd finds shelter with Mrs. Lovett (Ann Nyenhuis), who runs a failing pie shop. When Todd decides to take revenge on Judge Turpin and The Beadle, the judge's assistant, Mrs. Lovett, in her pragmatic way, finds a way to turn Todd's murderous rampage into a profitable enterprise for herself.

Other cast members include Andy Novak as Anthony Hope; Justin Roth as Tobias Ragg, Shannon Eller as the Beggar Woman, Michael Guffey as Adolfo Pirelli, and T.J. Hayes as Jonas Fogg.

Ticket and show information

"Sweeney Todd" can be seen through July 19. Tickets at $16 for all adults, $11 for age 18 and under are available online, anytime, including seat selection at auroracommunitytheatre.com or by calling 330-562-1818. Group discounts can be arranged by calling the box office.

Aurora Community Theatre is at 115 E. Pioneer Trail, near the intersection of Route 43 and 306, at the gazebo, in the center of Aurora.